Hello Lyn and Gene,


I have thought about a very similar concept, but have hesitated to suggest it. Glad you did.


I do not keep lists, but have found that it is very interesting and challenging to ID birds when traveling by auto.
Many of us cover large distances at 50-70 mph and move through much territory and varied environs while traveling to our destinations, often to search for a single species in a specific place (e.g., Ross's gull). I have seen many unexpected species while driving and it has improved my speed of recognition skills. I have occasionally taken the next exit to make another pass.


Of course we should caution all to not do so if they are in any way unsafe doing so: "well officer, I was not on my cell phone, but was distracted by a Gyrfalcon roosting near the freeway in that field back there about at the bend- a very neat bird-rarely seen, really- and did not mean to swerve and brake while looking over my shoulder. Did you see it? No? But hey, if you saw a Sasquatch walking across that field, would you have looked? "


So, what were your top five- ten favorites, clearly identified?


Best regards and be careful out there,
Dan Reiff
Mercer Island

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lyn Topinka " <pointers at pacifier.com>
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u. washington . edu >
Sent: Sunday, January 1, 2012 8:03:55 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] "Freeway Birds" --- for the Motorized Birder


hi all ... Gene and I have always admired the folks doing the
" motorless birding" lists ... only we're too stiff and creaky to get
much past motorless birding of our own neighborhood ... so this year
we began a "Freeway Birding" list ... we worked on the rules --- the
main one being we had to be doing at least 50 mph --- and began our
list last spring ... and we got 42 species in 8 months since we
started !!!!!!!!! ... it turned out to be rather fun ... we've
already begun our 2012 list today ...

http :// columbiariverimages .com/Birds/ FreewayBirds /index. html

enjoy,
Lyn and Gene,
Vancouver, Washington






Lyn Topinka
http :// EnglishRiverWebsite .com
http :// ColumbiaRiverImages .com
http :// RidgefieldBirds .com

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